India's history includes many stories of compassion, and one of the most remarkable is that of Jam Saheb Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Maharaja of Nawanagar.
During the Second World War, thousands of Polish civilians were displaced after the Soviet Union deported Polish citizens. Among those affected were children who were eventually evacuated south through Iran and Afghanistan. Some of them found safety in India.
The Maharaja Who Opened His Doors
In 1942, Jam Saheb offered land near his summer residence at Balachadi in present-day Gujarat for a settlement for Polish children. The Polish Children's Camp provided the children with accommodation, food, education and medical care. Official Polish sources say the settlement eventually sheltered hundreds of children, with estimates of roughly 650 to around 1,000 children passing through it during its years of operation.
The Maharaja also personally supported the development of the settlement and encouraged other Indian princes to contribute financially to the Polish refugees. The children were able to attend school and maintain aspects of their Polish language and culture while living safely away from the war.
A Place of Safety During a Time of War
For children who had already experienced displacement and the trauma of war, Balachadi became a place where they could rebuild a sense of normal life.
The settlement included a school, medical facilities and organised activities. The children were allowed to continue learning in Polish and to maintain traditions from their homeland.
Jam Saheb later became remembered in Poland as the “Good Maharaja” because of his role in providing shelter to these children. Poland recognised his humanitarian contribution, and he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
A Story That Still Matters
The story of Jam Saheb is remembered not simply because he provided a place to stay, but because he responded to the suffering of displaced children at a time when war had left millions without homes or security.
His actions became an enduring part of the historical relationship between India and Poland. Even today, Polish and Indian institutions continue to commemorate the children who found refuge in India during the war.
The story is a reminder that history is not only about battles, borders and political decisions. It is also about individual choices made during difficult times.
Jam Saheb chose to help children who had been forced from their homes. Decades later, that decision remains one of the memorable examples of humanitarian assistance associated with India's wartime history.
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